Break-ins, materials, tools, equipment, and inventory thefts are on the rise at businesses across the country. To protect a business’s valuable items and help maintain normal day-to-day operations, deploying a security solution capable of preventing crime can’t be understated.
How prevalent are business break-ins in 2023?
Business break-ins and thefts of cash, inventory and materials are increasingly occurring across the country. In Santa Fe, New Mexico this year, many businesses have decided to go cashless, based upon a swath of recent-break-ins. The general manager for Sky Coffee said people had been breaking in at night and stealing any cash that was on the premises. The previous November, Rowley Farmhouse Ales was the first in the area to go cashless after a string of armed robberies, as well as their safe being stolen.
In California, San Diego police are investigating a series of business break-ins in the upscale community of La Jolla. In recent weeks several businesses were targeted by what the police believe to be the same burglars. Thieves have used pry bars to open both front and rear doors of businesses. In one case, thieves broke a lockbox outside a door, and took the keys to gain entry. In all these cases, the burglars have gone for cash registers, and cut into safes. Investigations are still in progress, but the incidents are believed to be related.
In Queen Anne, a community in Seattle, business owners have been flummoxed for months. Crime is continually on the rise, and the Seattle Police Department has been ill-equipped to handle it, due to lack of capacity. Some local store owners are struggling with repeated break-ins since last year, and are becoming disheartened. Kevin Rinderle, whose family owns Queen Anne Dispatch, said, “When we do get broken into, it’s frustrating on a lot of levels. Not only do we feel our privacy is being invaded, but we feel insecure and threatened, and we’re exhausted at the end of the day.”
The cost of replacing stolen property and repairing damage to a business go well beyond financial expenditure. It also can cause major delays and disruptions in day-to-day operations, inconveniencing customers and impacting the bottom line. What’s the best approach to mitigating damage and theft for businesses?
Proactive security solutions are the best way to protect a business.
The majority of thefts reported in past several months occurred at businesses with some level of security implemented at their property. Although security measures were deployed, a common, but major, issue with these traditional systems is that they are reactionary in nature in that they cannot prevent crimes from happening. These surveillance systems are only able to document what has already occurred, and perhaps provide enough context and suspect descriptions to aid in police investigations later.
To protect a business and prevent theft from occurring in the first place, a proactive approach is necessary. Our innovative security systems and proactive remote video monitoring service are focused on detecting unwanted behavior, and deterring crime before it happens.
Our team of security professionals assess the threats and vulnerabilities associated with your property and develop a customized strategic plan to deploy our live video monitoring units for protection. Utilizing patented Cellular LTE communications, our video security units and wireless alarm systems provide flexibility and ease of installation, along with superior perimeter coverage of business properties, and a clear view of the most vulnerable areas.
Each of our security surveillance units is standard equipped with two high-resolution stationary cameras for situational awareness and detection, and a high definition pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera capable of gathering specific details and descriptions of criminals at great distances. Our video security and wireless alarm systems are assisted by our proprietary Artificial Intelligence. Our remote operators within our UL & ULC Certified Live Video Monitoring Facility work to:
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Identify unwanted behavior
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Determine the intent of the trespasser(s)
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Proactively deter them from committing a crime
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Dispatch Police, when required
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Report on activity on your property
Our monitoring team uses voice commands over live speakers to communicate directly with an intruder and inform them they are approaching an off-limits site, their actions are being monitored and recorded, and Police will be dispatched if they continue.
In addition to voice commands, our team activates a high-visibility LED strobe light to draw attention to the location. If they’re not deterred by these proactive measures, our team quickly dispatches local law enforcement to the crime-in-progress, and provides them with all of the critical details to assist in the apprehension of the suspect.
